Living by Faith… Can I Get a Witness, Please?!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.
I love to tell the story… I also love to hear the story! Evangelism 101 teaches us how to “present” the gospel, and it is wonderful to learn, for it (the gospel) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
As for me, I am not ashamed of it (Romans 1:16)… as a matter of fact I am eager to preach the gospel! (Romans 1:15)
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
But today… TODAY… I am eager to LIVE THE GOSPEL! And not just for your eyes only!
I want to BE. LIKE. A. TREE planted by the water!
I want to EXTEND my roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes!
I want my LEAVES TO BE GREEN!
But mostly… I want to NOT BE ANXIOUS in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit!
And then… not only can I preach the gospel but I. can. BE. the testimony of the gospel – my life can be the WITNESS that says, “My God is good (RIGHTEOUS!) all the time! And all the time, My God is good (RIGHTEOUS!)!”
Isaiah 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he/she trusts in You.”
Perfect peace… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension – guards my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
I can… Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
I can… Let my gentle spirit be known to all men. (Philippians 4:5)
HELLO!… The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing! (Philippians 4:6)
By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving… I will let my requests be made known to God… I will let Your story BE my story – my life!
It’s there in God’s Word! My story!
My name is all over Ephesians 2!
Ephesians 2:1 I (Mary) was dead in my trespasses and sins…
Ephesians 2:2 in which I (Mary) formerly walked according to the course of this world…
Ephesians 2:3 (Mary) formerly lived in the lusts of her flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and was by nature a child of wrath…
BUT GOD…
Ephesians 2:4 being rich in mercy. because of His great love with which He loves Mary…
Ephesians 2:5 even when she was dead in her transgressions, made her alive together with Christ (by grace she has been saved)…
Ephesians 2:6 and raised her up with Him, and seated Mary with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might SHOW the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward Mary in Christ Jesus!
My life IS the story of HIS GRACE (For by grace you have been saved through faith;… the gift of God) toward me! A TESTIMONY of true life – LIFE raised up with Christ and SEATED with Him and IN Him… A LIVING WITNESS (not as a result of works, so that I may not boast) of the good news of the gospel – Emmanuel – God with us!
Ephesians 2:10 For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that I (Mary) would walk in them.
I am saved! Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
However… if I want to be saved AND be a testimony of that salvation…
Faith – my confession and belief, must turn into Trust – the evidence that I not only believe but I PURSUE His kingdom/His Way/His truth… His Righteousness, AS MY OWN. seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
My WITNESS – my TESTIMONY of Perfect peace can now be added to my story! The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he/she trusts in You.
Yesterday in my “This is the Day the Lord Has Made” journal, I wrote…
“You, Lord Jesus (Lord Yeshua), have been whispering to me for a long time that prayer in my prayer closet and prayer in Your throne room are BOTH equally valuable to me and pleasing to You. However, they are neither less than nor more than our time walking together – your hand in Mine – every moment of every day I have made for us.”
My response passionate plea/request (Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God)… “As I order my day, let me NEVER go Life Walking without putting my hand in Yours!”
And then He said… “And always remember, no formal words, ways, and means, are necessary between Father/daughter – Brother/sister – Heart Dweller/beating heart… for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)”
And then I said… “Can I BE a witness, PLEASE?! God at work in me IS MY STORY!”
God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…
Is it YOUR story?
Can I Get a Witness, Please?!
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.